Sports Reporter

Liverpool are still planning to sign Aston Villa’s Belgian international Christian Benteke with the Raheem Sterling money but are refusing to pay the £32m Villa asking price. Current Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert is a target for West Brom, but Rodgers is unlikely to let the 33-year-old go until he knows he will get Benteke. (Daily Mirror).

Chelsea have been given the green light to sign Barcelona star Pedro and expect to complete a £22m deal next week (Daily Star).

Angel Di Maria is ready to quit Manchester United for a £50m move to Paris Saint-Germain. The French champions have made an initial bid of £40m, but United bosses want their asking price. United sources have also confirmed goalkeeper Victor Valdes was axed for the tour to the United States and the Spaniard now seems certain to find another club (Daily Star).

Premier League newcomers Bournemouth have been linked with a move for former Tottenham and Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov on a free transfer from Monaco. (talkSPORT).

Manchester United would have to pay over £35m to prise striker Robert Lewandowski away from Bayern Munich, his agent has warned. It has been suggested that United boss Louis van Gaal could try to sign the Polish striker as a replacement for Robin van Persie, who finally sealed his moved to Turkish club Fenerbahce on Tuesday.

Leicester City transfer target N’Golo Kante has told a French radio station the appointment of Claudio Ranieri as manager is an “important element” to his decision whether to leave Caen for the Premier League. (BBC Sport).

When Chesterfield return from their training camp in Portugal on Saturday, it’s expected that a battle to sign left footed winger or striker Sam Clucas could begin in earnest.

League One rivals Wigan Athletic, still receiving almost £10m in parachute payments after their Premier League relegation in 2013, look like favourites for the man signed less than a year ago from Mansfield Town, who would receive a proportion of any fee through a sell-on clause.